PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Şener, Şenay
AU  - Göger, Seda
TI  - Do digital health information searches of individuals with chronic diseases affect health literacy and patient empowerment?
AID  - 10.15537/smj.2024.45.6.20240158
DP  - 2024 Jun 01
TA  - Saudi Medical Journal
PG  - 617--625
VI  - 45
IP  - 6
4099  - http://smj.org.sa/content/45/6/617.short
4100  - http://smj.org.sa/content/45/6/617.full
SO  - Saudi Med J2024 Jun 01; 45
AB  - Objectives: To analyze the relationship between chronically ill patients’ behaviors in acquiring and verifying health information from a digital environment with health literacy and patient empowerment using a structural equation modeling approach.Methods: This study was carried out in a public hospital in Turkey between February and May 2023. The study consisted of 365 participants and used descriptive and correlation-based designs for statistical analyses. It also executed computations for descriptive statistics and correlations to carry out a path analysis to assess model fitness and to identify direct and indirect effects.Results: This study identified that Web 1.0 and health information acquisition and digital verification variables statistically and significantly affected access to information, understanding information, appraisal (valuing)/evaluation, and application/use variables. The study also found that access to information variables was statistically significant on identity/identicalness, self-control, decision-making, and recognition and comprehension. The tested model fit the data well and adequately explained the direct effects of the variables.Conclusion: The study concluded by suggestively improving the chronically ill patients’ media or digital literacy levels through special training to stimulate their internet use effectively.